I'm a big fan of strange-but-effective inventions.

*pauses to lovingly glance down at lime green Crocs*

Thus, I was THRILLED when I recently learned of a bizarre, anxiety-reducing wearable that repeatedly rubs fake fur against your forearm.

Apparently this device legitimately chills you out. Which, again, is odd.

But hey...the forearm wants what the forearm wants.

As always, please forward IQNEWS to a friend if you're a fan!

Human life expectancy has been rising for decades in most countries, yet the record for the longest-lived person hasn't budged in 26 years.

Jeanne Calment passed away at 122 in the south of France in 1997. Numerous scientists have posited Calment's lifespan might be a "ceiling." In other words, human genes might simply not have enough juice to make it to 130 and beyond.

A new study begs to differ!

In it, University of Georgia researchers used a new statistical method to analyze mortality data across 19 industrialized nations. Apparently, this method allowed them to estimate - with a high degree of confidence - the age members within generational cohorts might reach a mortality plateau.

Their analysis concluded that we should expect step-change life extension for folks born between 1910 and 1950, which means by 2060 we'll very likely see numerous folks exceed Jeanne Calment's record.

In fact, it's quite possible Calment's record will be broken in less than 20 years!

The study's authors added a major caveat: "Cohorts born before 1950 can only break existing records if policy choices continue to support the health and welfare of the elderly, and the political, environmental, and economic environment remains stable."

Here's the problem, though: if birth rates continue to drop, who will take care of the elderly as lifespans extend? Gigantic challenges will almost certainly emerge here...

Everyone likes pancakes. I don't care what dietary regimen you're on, you can't look at a fat stack of hot cakes and not take a bite.

Unless of course *tone deepens* you...hate...fun.

But also, there are a zillion low carb, paleo, etc. pancake products now that rock.

But here's the thing: flapjacks HAVE to be fluffy to deliver maximum pleasure.

"How do I ensure maximum fluffiness, though?!" So glad you asked.

IT'S SIMPLE - mix cold seltzer water into your batter instead of flat water.

Before long, you'll be biting into the food equivalent of a Tempur-pedic.

C+/B- analogy at best...but you get the point.

1. Your brain rembembers you forgot something but forgets what that something is.
2. Technically, every house is a homeless shelter.
3. When you are young, you learn to read, but as you get older, you read to learn.
4. Fog is down to earth clouds.
5. Cars record how far they've travelled but not how long they've idled for. Both affect your engine.

(Unknown): "When you feel like giving up, remember why you held on for so long in the first place."

Today I learned that in 1996, a 21-year-old man burst into a New Zealand radio station, took the manager hostage and demanded that Kermit the Frog's rendition of Rainbow Connection be played. (more here)

cavalcade [ kav-ul-kayd ] - noun
a formal procession of people walking, on horseback, or riding in vehicles
The royal cavalcade proceeded through the city.

Q: Which country gives students the longest summer holiday?
A: (see below next section)